Chapter 8

She clutched to his palm as the jet started to taxi, despite the heat in his fingers causing a visceral reaction in her rebellious body.

You really dislike flying, do you? He questioned as he sent a worried gaze her way.

She gave a headshake. "We as human beings were never meant to be flung through the air with such careless abandon," the guy said, referring to flying as "some kind of evil magic spawned by Satan."

He laughed when his shocked lips fell open. A grin pulled at her lips as she watched him laugh so loudly at something she said. It wasn't simply a polite chuckle.

He corrected her by saying, "First of all, it's physics, not magic, and I believe the Wright brothers would take offense to being called the spawn of Satan."

She acquiesced, "Maybe, but I stand by the conviction that if we were meant to fly, we would've been born with wings."

Do you view all modes of transportation with the same amount of disdain, or simply air travel?

Just air travel, although I do have a decent amount of skepticism towards boats.

He once again laughed heartily.

"So, your theory that if humans were meant to do something, they would be born with the ability to do it doesn't extend to travel by road, rail, or water?"

Nobody said it had to be reasonable; it's just a fear, she retorted.

Cassie leaped as soon as the seatbelt sign chirped.

Hey, we're in the air, she remarked.

Ah, that's the whole purpose, I agree.

His arm was struck by her. No, I meant that you diverted my attention long enough that I wasn't alarmed by takeoff.

She wanted to press her bare body against his as he said, "I aim to please," in that deep, gravelly voice of his.

The flight attendant approached them at that precise time.

She said gently, "Can I get you anything from the galley?"

"Let me buy you a late lunch," Irish remarked as he arched his eyebrow in his distinctive way.

She chuckled. "Sure," she answered. Why on earth not? It could be beneficial to absorb some of the alcohol that is circulating in her body.

"Exactly my thoughts," he said.

She covered her lips with her hand. She said, "I didn't mean to say that out loud," through her hand.

He shook his head and laughed. He said, "Vodka makes you talkative. "I recall," He took the menu from the cabinet and carefully read it. He inquired, "Do you have any dietary requirements?" and she gasped for air. He swung around to face her.

Did you just inquire about my diet?

At her, he scowled. "No, I didn't, and I'd be really disappointed if I learned you were," she said.

She had to push herself to keep her eyes open and not let them shut as he murmured filthy, filthy things in her ear with that voice. His voice was very growly and dominating, generating a full-body shudder.

She saw that he was waiting for a response as he continued to gaze at her. She mentally shook herself.

The answer is, "No, I'm not on a diet."

"Are you vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or paleo?" He questioned while refocusing on the menu.

"None of the above," she said.

To the flight attendant, he murmured, "Two steak sandwiches." Additionally, "and two glasses of water." As she left, he folded the menu and put it back in his pocket.

She pouted, "I wanted another vodka."

No, Blue, he murmured. "When we land, you need to be on your guard. Remember that you have a wedding to ruin and a groom to defeat? If you're sloppy drunk, you can't do it.

She harrumphed while crossing her arms. She knew he was correct, but she refused to say it.

He inquired sarcastically, "So, have you decided whether or not to take me up on my proposal?"

She murmured, wrapping a hair strand over her fingers, "I don't know.

He questioned, "What have you got to lose?" You still have your original arrangement to fall back on if it fails. It will either work or it won't.

She equivocated, "I suppose." She had no doubt that the moment Nathan saw Irish, he would be envious as all get out, but she was more concerned about what would happen to her if she was made to act as though she were dating the tall, dark, and green-eyed man. It can come out as being a bit too convincing.

He turned to face her while seated and extended a hand to remove a flyaway hair from her forehead. Even with how gentle and innocent his touch was, it ignited something within of her. Since she initially began her arrangement with Nathan, she had never gone this long without a guy at her side. He was the last man she had slept with. Simply muscle memory and the fact that she had been leading a cloistered life were to blame for her body's reaction.

She groaned and went to sleep. His proximity was pleasant. Comforting. He was correct; the worst that could happen was for her to just go back to her previous arrangement with Nathan. Even while it wasn't ideal, she would be content if it was all she could have of him.

As the flight attendant came back and set their food in front of them, she said, "Okay." "How about you, though? Don't you already have plans, and will you even be at the proper place?

While she waited for his response, she took a bite out of her sandwich and groaned gratefully. She didn't notice how hungry she was since her anxiety made her focus only on the journey ahead of her.

He inquired, "Where's the wedding?"

After swallowing, she said, "On the Sunshine Coast." An hour away from the Coast in Brisbane, the plane they were aboard touched down. She would be picked up by Nathan, and they would continue driving.

His eyes glowed as he grinned at her. What a coincidence, I'm going there too, he remarked.

She questioned, "Business?"

He gave a headshake. Long needed a getaway.

"And you'd give up that for me?" It was her.

He simply smiled and kept eating his sandwich. She gave a headshake. He was simply too nice to be true.

She responded, "I'm not going to sleep with you again," and her ovaries started to sob.

He answered, "We'll see," while flirtatiously wagging his eyebrows.

She chuckled as she took another piece of her sandwich and shook her head once again. She could finally be able to move on if things with Nathan didn't work out as planned. Irish could be the ideal partner for further development. She didn't want to consider the what-ifs, so she turned her head to stare out the window. She had desired Nathan for so long that she didn't know how to stop wanting him. She felt in her bones that Nathan was the one for her. Ainsley would be content with anything Nathan could provide for her if he persisted in marrying her.

But I have one condition," she said.

He encouraged her to continue with a nod.

"Nathan is picking me up so that we can have a conversation. Before I introduce him to our phony relationship, I want to hear what he has to say. Perhaps we won't even require it.

He gave her a narrowed-eyed look while nodding in agreement.

She stated, "I'm staying at Oceans in Mooloolaba," as she noticed his eyes lighting up.

"So am I," he said with a broad smile.

Oh, wonderful, she remarked. Say, "How about we meet at the reception at seven?"

"Okay," he replied, "but if we're going to do this, I'm going to need something from you too."

She answered stiffly, "I already told you I wasn't going to sleep with you.

He laughed. "No, not that, but if I were you, I wouldn't completely rule it out. No, I'd rather for you to join me for dinner so you may meet my mum. She'll stop criticizing me for seeing someone if she sees us together, and I won't have to put up with her putting me up on miserable dates.

She spit out the water and sprayed Evian over the seat in front of her. She asked, shocked, "Pity dates?" There is no way someone could ever view going out with you as a pity date.

He gave an eye-roll. "Aren't you sure?

So, she continued, "I suppose we ought to get to know one another. The question "What do you do?"

"I work in aviation," he declared.

"Ah," she said knowingly. "Therefore, the heated discussion surrounding air travel."

Her stomach flinched as he grinned at her.

"Blue, how about you? What are you up to?"

"PR," she merely stated. "I'm taking this particular flight because of it. My customer is one of these men.

That tiny fact made his eyes widen. He answered, "Perks of the job."

She bowed. "Colleen Aviation is a new company, and they offered me a free flight to get a feel for the company."

What do you think, then?" he questioned.

She said honestly, "Well, it's the best flight experience I've had so far," and then chuckled. But it's not really saying much because I've been through some terrible things.

He muttered.

She said, "What about you?" You must fly frequently as you work in aviation.

He gave a nod. "I do. Via private charter, typically.

She raised an eyebrow in astonishment. She was aware of the man's affluence. But a private charter? His attire and the luxury apartment they'd spent the night in were obvious clues.

"So why did you pick these guys?"

He said with a shrug, "I detest flying economy, which is why I like a private jet. Nevertheless, this airline provides first-class flying at a lower cost than I can charter one, so I chose to try it out.

"And?"

She didn't believe they were still talking about the flight when he answered, "So far, so good," in a low growl.

Cassie yawned when the flight attendant removed their lunch trays. Herbal sedatives, alcohol use, and now a full stomach of food were all having a positive effect on her.

You're worn out, he remarked. Could you just close your eyes for a moment? I'll wake you up when we arrive.

She gave him a thankful grin and reclined the backrest of the seat. She placed her head on his shoulder as he also reclined.

She whispered, "You're all right, Irish," and then fell asleep.